#and also because i don't want to do this much work all at once

[queervegancryptid]

I would encourage people to try different distros over time to see which one suits you best. I use Archcraft, which isn't beginner-friendly. But the neat thing about Linux is that you can use a USB stick to boot into a "live" OS and try it before installing.

In the olden times, this was more often done by burning a large file to a blank DVD disc, but it's become much easier to do with the USB stick method. But especially in those days, you wanted to try before installing. For one thing, installation used to take a really long time. And without trying it, you couldn't be 100% sure whether all your hardware would work as expected. There are still some issues in that area, but it's a lot better than it used to be.

Distrochooser is a great place to start. I'd also suggest checking out the following:

This is a great resource. Suppose you have a computer, or you're considering buying a new one, and you want to know how compatible the hardware will be with Linux. You can look up the model of the computer and see information on it that's been uploaded by actual users who have that same machine and the distros they tested on it. You can also look up information by specific part, like a sound card that isn't working properly out of the box, as an example.

This kind of thing used to be a much bigger headache, but there can still be some issues. Which is also why I'd encourage most people to dual-boot Windows or macOS alongside a Linux partition. There are a ton of guides on how to do this. You'll have to find one for your specific machine or one similar, like from the same company and around the same year.

You don't have to get comfortable with using a terminal, but it's a good idea. The more you understand how Linux works, you can customize it and make it your own in ways you just can't with Windows or macOS. I really like that about Archcraft. There's a good base, and I can add to it in ways that work for me.

You may also spend a while distrohopping, bouncing around until you find one that suits you, and then you may decide after a while to hop around some more. I've tried dozens of them over the years. It started as a curiosity thing I was messing with in my dorm room. Then my laptop was stolen, and I basically cobbled one together out of spare parts. But it couldn't run Windows XP for more than about 20 minutes before crashing and powering down. So my Linux skills became useful, and I learned to make do with a machine that had only about 35 GB storage. I wouldn't recommend it, but I'm glad I had the skills and knowledge necessary to put that together. When I was stranded at my dad's house during the recession for a year and a half, it was my only lifeline to the world outside my tiny hometown.

Seriously, Linux is amazing. You should explore it, especially if you're a curious person like me. There's a lot to explore, and that's one reason why I like it. I try new or obscure distros sometimes just for fun. But that's probably the autism.

I might add more to this but I'm trying to put together a guide for people who are new to Linux and curious about it, because more and more people seem to be getting sick of Windows all the time. I keep a Windows partition because there are a couple of games I like that work better on that OS, so it's just a matter of practicality. You might need a Windows (or Mac) partition for another reason, like work or something. Once again, it's about finding what works best for you. I think a lot of people would be happier with Linux, and I'm really glad it's more doable now than when I started.

"windows 11 upgrade ready!" "your computer is eligible for windows 11!" "download windows 11 now!"

[squiddyfics]

squid game characters in a relationship with you

saebyeok, thanos, namgyu, daeho, hyunju, semi, the recruiter

description: how squid game characters would be as partners (au; no mention of the games)

18+ minors dni

warnings: nsfw in parts!!

︵‿︵‿୨♡୧‿︵‿︵

saebyeok:

♡ you were the one to ask her out and she quite literally didn't believe it

♡ like she didn't even answer you at first because she didn't think you were being serious

♡ she has a hard time expressing her emotions. you definitely said "i love you" first and it took her a while to feel comfortable saying it back

♡ despite this, she was the one who fell in love first. she just kept that shit to herself lmao

♡ rather than being outwardly affectionate with her words, she expresses her love through quality time. she loves planning dates for you or just cooking for you at home

♡ she's not big on pda, but she'll wrap a protective arm around you while you're out together

♡ if someone hits on you, she'll get even more protective. partly out of jealousy, but mostly because she hates the thought of someone making you uncomfortable

♡ she's a generous lover. def more of a giver if you know what i mean

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

thanos:

♡ he was the one to approach you, and he was bold about it too

♡ you aren't his first partner by any means, but you're his first real love

♡ he looooves to show you off. "look at my baby. look how lucky i got."

♡ naturally, this means he's into pda. the more eyes on the two of you, the better. he wants the whole world to know you're his

♡ especially if someone shows interest in you... then he gets even more touchy, so he can rub it in their face that you're his, all his

♡ if anyone wrongs you, he'll vow to make their life a living hell. you can't even gossip about your work drama to him without him getting angry on your behalf and threatening to kill them

♡ even though he talks a big game he knows he's lowk a loser and he doesn't take it for granted that you choose to stay by his side

♡ that being said he makes you his bitch in bed. he's for sure heavily on the dominant side

♡ he also has an exhibitionism kink i just feel that in my bones

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

namgyu:

♡ he was the one to make a move on you, but he said it in a joking manner so that if you said no, he could play it off as not being serious

♡ this man's love language is physical touch there's no doubt about it

♡ his words don't match his actions.. like he'll make fun of you for crying during a movie while simultaneously cuddling you and rubbing your back

♡ he doesn't have any cute pet names for you, just insults said in a loving manner ("stinky" etc). he just can't take himself seriously enough to be sappy

♡ you've unlocked his secret second love language, which is sending you memes

♡ he wants to be seen as tough so he pretends to hate it when you call him cute (he does not, in fact, hate it) (it actually melts him)

♡ he gives the evil eye to anyone who dares to look at you for a second too long

♡ you are for his eyes only

♡ he's dominant in bed but he likes you bratty. he wants to work for it

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

daeho:

♡ you had known him for a while, and you had to be the one to ask him out because he was oblivious to all the hints you were dropping

♡ he was too much of a gentleman to risk overstepping your boundaries by asking you on a date

♡ however, once he had the confirmation that you actually liked him, he was all in

♡ he was absolutely the first one to say "i love you". that man fell head over heels

♡ he is patient as fuck and will put up with whatever bullshit you throw at him. like when you tested the orange peel theory on him and he passed with flying colors

♡ you literally have a pet boyfriend. he'll go anywhere with you and do anything to make you happy. your fav himbo <3

♡ he's prone to jealousy but tries not to show it so as not to make a scene in front of you. if someone hurts you, though, all etiquette goes out the window and he's ready to start SWINGING

♡ your pleasure is his priority in bed and he's up for whatever you're into, but when it comes to his preferences, he'd much rather be dominated by you

♡ call him a good boy and his brain will go haywire

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

hyunju:

♡ you definitely had to make the first move. this mf was way too stoic to express her feelings for you

♡ she got anxious and cancelled on you before your first date, so you had to be persistent and reschedule

♡ she was surprised by your strong interest in her, and she still doesn't know how she got so lucky

♡ it took her a bit to open up, but she ended up saying "i love you" first

♡ she's extremely protective of you. her introversion is forgotten as soon as someone upsets you, and she's giving them a piece of her mind within seconds

♡ she doesn't really get jealous, she just gets sad :(

♡ she's an acts of service girly. she'll vacuum your floor, change a flat tire for you, anything to feel useful to you

♡ she gives stone top energy (this one is more for an f!reader as it's a wlw term)

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

semi:

♡ she was the one to ask you out, and she said it so casually that you almost missed it

♡ her first "i love you" was also casual, said as she was leaving your house one morning. "bye, love you."

♡ you honestly don't know if she's prone to jealousy because no one has fucked around and found out. everyone around you two respects her quiet confidence and doesn't even bother trying anything with you

♡ she has strong opinions, but she expresses them calmly. because of this, the two of you never fight, though you do occasionally have respectful debates. you tend to walk away feeling like she was in the right after all

♡ she's not huge on pda unless it's something cute and lowkey like holding hands, or some stupid shit like licking you

♡ you def have a secret handshake

♡ she's a soft dom and she's not shy about wanting to receive. she wants you on your knees in front of her

♡ with that said, she also gives great head. that lip piercing..... iykyk

ₓ˚. ୭ ˚○◦˚.˚◦○˚ ୧ .˚ₓ

the recruiter:

♡ he asked you out at a bar, making a bet that if you lost at pool, you'd go on a date with him

♡ you lost on purpose so his fine ass would take you on a date, and the rest was history

♡ he said he loved you first, and he said it fast. it's not often that he feels love for someone, so he had to act on it

♡ he would do anything for you. anything. if you asked him for help burying a body, he'd tell you not to get your pretty hands dirty; he'd do it himself

♡ not that that would happen... but he's thought about it. he knows that's how dedicated he is to you

♡ this freaky little fuck doesn't feel an iota of jealousy when others flirt with you. he just smiles, knowing know matter how much they fight for your attention, it'll be his name you're screaming at the end of the night

♡ he likes to be in control in life, and that translates to the bedroom too

♡ he has big sadist energy, but if he ever actually crosses a line he'll drop everything to comfort you (and beat himself up about it)

[drdemonprince]

Hey, thanks so much for your newest article about vanilla sex being coercive etc. It made me feel less like there's something wrong with me and my sexuality for having very clear needs and wants and feeling like it's hard to find a dynamic that would fit me. I could not put my finger on why exactly the whole topic of sex is so hard for me.

Like yeah I'm asexual but also, I find it really repulsive when people assume my wants and needs based on my body type, my genitalia, my gender, my face, my personality, well, anything; and I don't know why I assumed there's something wrong with ME for being uncomfortable with that? It's just deeply uncomfortable. And the societal expectation of having to enjoy or want to do this set of vanilla sex activities is what makes it precisely hard to navigate; and the way people can make you feel like shit for not wanting it, like you're a bad partner, bad person etc. And with the layer of my transness it also gets idk so complicated.

I cope by liking masks, armours, full body suits and fantasizing about being able to fuck monsters because it feels like it would be free of gender stereotypes and expectations and any coercive behaviours, like I would be free to do anything and not be then labelled because of it and suddenly perceived differently and forced to uncomfortable shit. I'm idk very fluid, very switchy and hate being restricted with all this shit. But gods forbid you express once more interest in being more dom or sub or top/bottom and suddenly people's ability to see fluidity disappears and you're flattened into something you're not

So I would rather jack off than try to have sex with someone lol, it's all too much. But now at least I don't feel so much like there's something deeply wrong with me. And I won't settle for anything uncomfortable and restricting. Thank you

(sorry if I mixed any terms, english is not my first language and sometimes I get stuff mixed when speaking two languages on a daily basis)

Omg Anon I'm so happy <3. Thank you for your message. It's true, people project so many of their own desires and basic stereotypes about embodiment and identity onto our sexualities and it can be downright traumatic really. At best it's a complete wash of nonsense, a data dump of completely irrelevant fantasies and path dependence that makes it impossible to actually find a real human person through the din. I'm glad my work made you feel less like you are the problem. And being a knight or a creature sounds fucking cool and hot.

Here's the article for anyone who didn't see it btw

[heyftinally]

My parents refused to cut my hair until I decided I wanted to, and tbh I'm really grateful for that because I loved my butt-length hair *so* much. I still have incredibly long hair now, and what I've learned is most of us who had long af hair were usually subjected to the bare minimum of care for it, which Does Not Work.

At the bare minimum*, long hair care looks like this:

Hairbrush matters. It doesn't have to be trendy, but that little spiky thing from the dollar store is probably going to make this all suck a LOT more. I like the brand WET, some people like unbrush or whatever it it, whatever floats your goat. Bottom line, you want something with good surface area, plastic, and bristles that have capped ends (ie the little plastic nubby bits). This is both for the sake of your hair and ease of cleaning because yes you need to clean your hairbrush.

Conditioner is your friend. And no, 2-in-1 doesn't count. Every time you wash your hair, condition it well. It significantly helps with tangles. If your hair is extra fine/prone to tangles, consider a leave-in conditioner after you're done washing.

Hair brushing needs to happen twice a day. We normally think of brushing your hair before going to school/work, but during the day your hair gets tangled by wind, car seats, walking/running/playing/etc. If you don't brush it out before bed, those tangles get worse when you toss and turn at night. Brushing once before you leave the house and again before bed SIGNIFICANTLY helps prevent bigger, more painful knots in the morning.

Keep it styled whenever possible. Before bed, something like a loose braid is ideal - we want minimal scalp tension and minimal hair movement. During the day do whatever you want, but keep in mind that the more hair is loose, the more chance it has to tangle.

Be mindful of how different tools affect your hair. Those little rubber mini elastics are great for intricate styles, but they can tangle in your hair easily - if you use them, I recommend buying them from the dollar store and cutting them to remove. Any elastics with a metal crimp holding the ends together can also get caught or tangled in your hair. Scrunchies are the least likely to tangle due to size, and silk/satin ones are great for sleeping in.

Spray-in detangler can really help with stubborn knots, but so can leave-in conditioner. Either way, both will leave residue in their that can build up, and in some cases can actually make the hair more prone to tangling, since it's more sticky after the product dries. Make sure you're washing your hair regularly, and if you notice your hair still doesn't feel clean after a regular wash you can use a clarifying shampoo once a month, but not more than that as it completely straps everything from your hair and can dry it out if overused.

Obviously do whatever you want with your own hair, but for people who lament the long hair struggle and (like me) weren't taught how to give your hair the time it needs, I hope I've helped you in some small way.

*if you have curly/textured hair you will have more/different steps. I'm speaking exclusively from a naturally straight haired perspective.

As a guy who was once a little girl with long long hair I never understand when I see toddlers and little girls with crazy long hair. Like yeah sure it’s cute and it’s traditional but is it not a constant uphill battle against that shit tangling and matting into a needle-felted cheesypoof and dirt helmet? I used to spend 10 minutes a day whining and crying at the kitchen table while my mom spent a hundred years deranging that shit. These things gave me ptsd

I don’t have kids but if I ever do then everyone’s getting the Sinead Special till they’re old enough to have an opinion and comb it themselves, myself included

[negrowhat]

I mean...

The yearning. The tender kiss. The restraint. The forehead kiss that lingers. (The acting here...) Perky denim-clad bum straddling. (A solid outfit choice). Their hands. (They are so good at natural marking, how they touch and hold each other in these scenes). The way Cir held his eyes (with that expression of barely restrained want) and swung his legs up onto his shoulder before pulling his pants off in one motion. I had to pause and exhale and laugh out loud. Because WHAT.

But also...all the licking. Sir. Here we are again, with you licking every inch of that young man. But is it just me or is this a more grown and sexy version? Licking up his neck and lingering at the adam's apple. The lips across the nipple. The little bite of the inner thigh. Yes, thank you.

And that was just the foreplay (Again, top marks boys).

Anon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You are so right about everything! This scene gave us a lot to work with! Like a full-on visual buffet. Let's go back and even talk about Phu asking Cir to kiss him again, staring up and Cir with his big soft boy eyes. And when Cir climbed on top of Phu the first time I was like Dang when did Boss start arching his back like that???

That forehead kiss was sweet and I did enjoy seeing Cir's restraint kick back in, you could see him forcing himself to pull away. Phu was sick and though they have been acting like boyfriends, they were not in fact boyfriends. BUT I'm sure he saw what a lot of us saw. Phu's disappointment. Phu didn't say anything but his expression said it all, he was disappointed that Cir pulled away from him. He wanted more. And I love that we got such a telling expression from Noeul because it reads across so well.

Also not Cir offering to help...calm down Phu's raging hard-on TWICE! After all it was Cir's fault that Phu was like that. I love that MAME makes sure we all know that these main characters are in fact men because the boners Cir and Phu have been popping for each other over the past few eps have been a highlight.

I did love the licking of Phu's Adam's Apple and his chin and his chest. Loved the swift unbuttoning Cir did, it was so smooth and seamless. LOVED seeing Cir's big ole hand on Phu's chest and side. Loved the constant eye contact from Cir to Phu. I'm sure it was to make sure that Phu was fine with everything he was doing, but Boss does lusty, horny eyes so well. Love seeing Phu's hand buried in Cir's hair for most of the scene. You could really see him sinking his fingers in.

I wasn't expecting a blowjob scene though. A ton of BLs just jump right into the sex and we don't get a lot of forms of sexual intimacy outside of that (Not saying we don't get them at all, just not as often as one would like).

Also Cir allowing Phu to have control of that situation. I wasn't expecting so much hair gripping and Phu pushing Cir's head down. He set the pace and Cir just followed. Love that we got to see such pretty expressions from Phu too but I hate that Cir didn't get to enjoy his facial expressions.

This scene did give me serious PayuRain nostalgia with Phu being sick and Cir still kissing him. And also the inner thigh kissing.

Cir's brief bathroom scene seemed to imply that he might have jerked off in there (or maybe it was said in the novel) and I'm sure he probably rinsed out his mouth, like I was telling my friend, I'm sure Cir swallowed after giving Phu the best head of his life. And I just love that they go back to being cute and soft and sweet. I love that Phu is once again shy and Cir is back to being concerned about Phu being sick and alone.

[things-arent-what-they-seem66]

Adam can shapedhift (completely random idea)

There are places in heaven called breeding barns to keep the heaven born population up, its a place where angels go to either impregnate or be impregnated. Adam is a frequent visitor of these. He hides his identity as best he can because his shape shifting abilities are very limited to changing his body to either female or male (only from the waist down, both Lilith and Adam have this ability after death).

So once every year Adam will go to these breeding barns and give himself a pussy, at these places it's normal for someone to just hide their face during sex. Especially since it's frowned upon, but heaven needs those numbers just in case hell was to rise up.

Since angels laid eggs within a month of being impregnated Adam didn't see it as much as a loss since he could also just leave the egg with someone who really wants it.

While doing his usual thing a particular angel caught his eye, after a little flirting he got the guy to join him. The angel was quite eager saying he hadn't done this in so long, practically spilling everything to Adam about not seeing his ex or how he missed her still and hoping this might help him move on. Adam didn't care, if he was being honest he really needed a cock in him. Especially after talking with the princess of hell and losing one of his chicks.

Adam needed to get eaten out and stuffed like a pastry.

By the time they got to the room Adam practically pinned the dude to the bed, kissing him and using his hand to grope at his crotch. The guy felt huge. Adam would never admit it but he was a size queen or king however you say it.

He was surprised when the guy flipped them and immediately got to work on him, Adam never changed his body much during these little get aways. He didn't need to, it wasn't like he was looking for a partner just a quick fuck that's all.

But damn this guy knew what he was doing, the way he was already making Adam sing was almost sinful. If Adam didn't know any better it was like a demon found their way into heaven. Adam nearly screamed when the guy started eating him out.

"holy shit!! Oh god!!"

Adam was somewhere else not even noticing the guy's eyes flash red as he ate Adam out, the rooms were always dim almost completely black.

"you taste amazing, so pure~" Adam gasped and shoved the guys head back down.

"don't talk shorty, unless you're about to fuck me" Adam moaned again as his orgasm washed over him "fuck~ you're amazing"

"mmm I try to be~ Now time for the main event" Adam could feel it, feel the guys long shaft push against his folds. "I'm sure you can take me, you're definitely wet enough~" the guys voice sounded so fucking familiar but at the moment there were better things to think about.

As they pushed in Adam saw stars no galaxies, without even thinking Adam pulled them close as his hips turned against the shorter angels hips. Adam gasped and moaned as the thrusts and his rutting synced into a beautiful rhythm. His cunt making wet slapping noises as they fucked like he was going to repopulate heaven alone. And fuck Adam wanted that so fucking much at the moment.

For this dude to pump him so full of cum he's left wanting more.

"fuck I you're turning me into your bitch babe," Adam moaned and the guy stopped, Adam wanted to cry as a high pitch whine left his throat.

"is that what you want?" Adam wanted this guy to keep fucking him.

"yeah, yes whatever just keep fucking me," suddenly Adam felt like he was falling until he thudded against soft fabrics. "Huh?" Adam didn't have time to think as their fucking continued.

—

When Adam woke up he was in hell with a golden band on his ring finger, he attempted to pull it off but it wasn't budging. His eyes grew wide as Lucifer walked in with breakfast for him.

"good morning angel~ How did you sleep?" Lucifer said in a soft voice as he set Adams food down.

Adam just stared at the man, he had just had the best sex of his life and it was this fucking devil who did it. Does he even recognize him?

What is going to happen now?

YOOOO I LOVE THIS!!!

Adam would be so confused and Lucifer is just chill because he KNEW it was Adam.

You know Heaven keeps those Breeding Barns in high places that winners wouldn't know about them lol

Bonus points, Adam can't shift back once he fell.

Adam: I.... What the fuck is going on!?

Lucifer: You said you wanted to be my bitch.~ So I made your request come true.

Adam: WHAT!? That was you but.... You can't get into Heaven you were banned!

Lucifer shrugged: Anyone can walk in if the door is left open.

Adam wanted to go up there and strangle that gate keeper, Peter was so fucking fired for this.

Adam: So..... Wait, we're-

Lucifer: Bond together forever and going to likely have a baby? Yes.~ Just like you asked.

@cakerybakery @sir-tater-of-the-tot Thought you guys would enjoy this one too 👀

[siggiedraws]

Hello! i absolutely adore your art and agree with your sonic opinions, you're overall one of the best sonic blogs out there. May i ask how do you plan out and draw your comics? How do you choose the formatting of panels themselves, the composition, the dialogue and so on? From A to Z, please! I apologize if this ask might be inconvenient, but i'm curious because i love your comics and have attempted to draw a sonic comic myself that failed miserably.

Typically the first step I will take is to just rough it out in a sketchbook, because I find it much faster and when working digitally I feel more pressure to make things look nice. This is where I start thinking about paneling and composition. It doesn't look perfect or cohesive at this stage, but at least now I have a rough idea presented with barely legible scribbles that don't make sense to anyone but me.

For paneling, large panels linger more, and small panels indicate quick succession. This is the most important rule I personally follow when making panels. It affects things like comedic/dramatic timing and how the reader will be guided through your comic.

It's important to vary up the composition when it comes to dialogue scenes where not that much is happening. The shot-reverse-shot format works, but remember that once you have an establishing shot and the reader knows where the characters are, you can get creative. I like to do close-ups where not everything is shown to create a sense of vagueness around what emotion the character is feeling.

Don't do this too excessively unless you're trying to create a claustrophobic feeling - let it breathe with a medium shot or long shot after!

In film-making, there's a rule called the 180-degree rule that basically states that in a two-character interaction, there is an invisible line drawn between them. The camera does not cross this line and stays on one side. This basically keeps the characters on one respective side of the frame at all times to avoid confusing the viewer.

This is by no means something you have to follow for comics, but if you want to create something that is easier to follow, it's a good rule of thumb that I consider when drafting! It can also be broken depending on the effect you're going for.

Once I have a draft, I'll typically go into editing and changing things that don't work quite as well as I'd like. This can be done by yourself or you can get it revised by a friend, like I do!

After the draft is finished, I'll get to lining and colouring. To be honest, it's not something I can teach so easily, but rather something that takes a lot of time and practice to learn. I typically draw the backgrounds with thinner lineart so that the characters stand out. Same deal with colouring - the characters stand out from the background colour-wise. There are multiple ways to do this, but for example, here I made the background have less colour contrast than the characters and stick to an orange-ish tone, while the characters are different colours from the background.

For speech bubbles, generally the words should fit the shape of the bubble to the best of your ability. The line spacing should be as close and compact as possible without touching the lines above or below. This is to save space on the page so that speech bubbles don't take up a majority. The tail of the bubble should point towards the character's mouth.

Avoid tangenting! This is when the very edges of two different things touch each other. It creates a flatter effect so you want to avoid it as much as possible.

That's about all I can think of right now. Hope this helped!

[getaapologist]

The Tension and the Terror..............Part VIII

Pairing: Emperor Geta x OFC (extremely loosely, character is named but otherwise not described besides hair length in a later part)

Summary: Geta makes a declaration of love. It isn't received well, through no fault of his own.

Warnings: violence, implication of SA (did not occur), 18+ only.

Word Count: 3.4k

Part 8 of 13?

[ Part VII ]

Series Masterlist

A/N: This is a bit more foundation work. I also didn't name Letha's brother (or any of her family) so you can picture whoever you want. I almost took all this out, I wasn't sure it fit everything I've written up to now, but I hope it works for you.

Raptio is literally "taking," but it's used to reference the abduction of women, to be used/enslaved or married against their will. The obvious implication there is SA, but I am not including that aspect here because it's just not needed. Being kidnapped is enough, surely. I don't know if it was really a punishable crime, but I sure hope so. It is in this version of events, anyway. The next two parts will pretty much be all Geta. Thanks for your patience!

Letha had beaten both Emperors to breakfast that morning, despite spending extra time in choosing a dress from the assortment delivered to her rooms the prior day. The anticipation of seeing Geta again drew her out of bed early. She took advantage of the quiet to actually eat a reasonable meal, only interrupted as she pushed the small plate away. 

“My brother dismissed all his concubines this morning. You wouldn’t happen to know anything about that, would you?” Caracalla wasn’t really asking. He already knew she had something to do with it. Still, the news shocked her. She thought of Lyra, regretting her words. She hoped nothing awful had happened.

“I didn’t ask him to–”

“Of course you didn’t. You can’t tell us to do anything,” he sighed, pulling out his usual chair and plopping down in it. “Just thought you’d like to know.”

Letha took it for the kindness it was. “Thank you, Caracalla.”

He reached out and picked through the fruit, mischief lighting his eyes up. “So does this mean you two are fucking?”

She nearly choked. “N-No,” she responded, recovering, face on fire.

Caracalla giggled. She avoided looking over at him, instead choosing to study the elaborate craftsmanship of the table. It was a nice table, she thought, desperately trying to not think about Geta.

The chair beside Letha was pulled out and the man himself sank into it, a sly smile already on his face as he busied himself with adjusting his robes. He was all made up, ready for the day. Bright, shining, like Apollo. 

He leaned over, invading Letha’s space. “Did you get enough to eat?” he asked quietly.

“Yes,” she assured him. She was nervous to meet his eyes again after the way she left him. She was relieved he didn’t seem upset with her, quite the opposite. 

Protective?

“How is your shoulder?”

“Better,” she answered. 

She noticed Caracalla watching his brother intently. She followed his gaze, surprised to see the dark maroon already lining his eyes. She expected to see the tired, fresh-from-bed version of Geta. This was… It was nice. 

“You sure look pretty for the senators, brother,” Caracalla teased.

Geta looked down to Letha, his gaze soft for once. “It’s not for them.” The smile returned. Her face probably felt hot to the touch. She almost pressed her own hand to her face to check. 

“Why do I even have to go?” Caracalla whined, slumping in his chair. “Can’t you tend to them by yourself?”

Geta looked over at his brother, his smile growing. “It’s our duty.” He picked up an apple and took a bite, his pleasant mood almost infectious. 

“I’ve never seen you so eager to fulfill our duty,” Caracalla grumbled. 

“You must get ready, ‘Calla,” Geta requested, his tone gentle. “It shouldn’t be a long meeting. Then you can have your games.” Another bite of the apple.

Geta was always so sweet to his brother. Letha couldn’t come up with a better word for it. Taking the sting out of responsibilities, soothing his panic and fear, distracting him with life’s pleasures to ease his mood. He tolerated his teasing, even when his patience had run out for all others. Caracalla was exempt from Geta’s poor moods. He only ever received a tiny fraction of Geta’s ire when his mouth got away from him and he seemed on the verge of revealing something in other company that Geta wished to remain private. 

And Caracalla intuitively understood his brother’s shifting moods and their cause, not usually having to ask him what was wrong, what might be bothering him. Perhaps all that time seated beside his brother he became a good study. 

“At least Letha will keep me company,” Caracalla smiled.

“The senators might balk at her presence,” Geta admitted.

“Since when do you care?”

“I don’t,” Geta claimed, glancing down at Letha. “She can come if she wants to.”

“Is she not here for my protection?” Caracalla asked, seemingly concerned.

“I’ve arranged for Tegula’s best man to remain at your side, at all times,” Geta explained, gesturing to a lightly armored man standing in the corner of the room, tucked in among the columns as if he was trying to be inconspicuous. “This is Ancus.”

Caracalla looked over at the man. Then back to his brother, to Letha. To Geta again. “But I don’t want Ancus, I want Letha,” Caracalla complained, something in his tone veering towards true agitation.

“She’s still healing, ‘Calla,” Geta explained. “She will be near, but I would feel better if Ancus stayed with you too, at least until we figure out who’s responsible for these attacks.”

“You just want her for yourself!” Caracalla accused, standing from his chair. Geta mirrored his movement, albeit much more slowly.

“Caracalla, I—” he paused, adopting a more gentle tone before continuing, “I will not keep her from you. She can do as she pleases. I just need to know that you are safe.”

His words seemed to soothe him enough, but Letha worried that this would not be the last of this conversation. Caracalla skulked off, and Ancus followed after him silently. 

Geta sank back into his chair with a sigh, his mood no longer nearly as pleasant.

“I will spend time with him today,” Letha offered, broaching the silence. 

He leaned his head back, his head turning in her direction lazily, a smirk appearing. “Not too much, I hope.”

“As much as is necessary to preserve his good temper,” she answered, the pressure of his warm eyes on her jump-starting that heat again, as if she were back in the gardens again, frozen beneath his stare.

“Oh, but then I’d never see you, Letha,” he teased, moving closer, “and I have more to offer you.”

“More?” She couldn’t help her eyes falling to his lips.

She jumped in her seat as his fingers found the skin along the inside of her leg, just past her knee, too close for where they were, in the middle of the dining hall. She quickly pressed her hands to his, trapping it against her skin. He squeezed.

He leaned over further, his lips finding her ear. “Just something for you to consider today, when you’re… deciding how to allocate your time.” His teasing was back in full force. He drew back, taking another bite of the apple, his stare unwavering as he chewed.

Letha could only watch him right back, thoughts boiling until her legs stopped shaking and she could stand.

Letha understood Caracalla’s complaints about having to meet with the Senators almost immediately. She could feel their eyes on her as soon as she stepped into the room, following behind the twins as they made their way over to their thrones, side by side. 

“A chair,” Geta summoned, pointing to the space beside his seat.

“By me, brother,” Caracalla insisted. 

Geta frowned, but relented.

Letha was sure to reach down and brush the hand gripping the arm of his seat with her fingers as she passed around the chairs, a consolation to try to keep him jovial. She took a seat as instructed, body turned in towards Caracalla in the presence of so many strangers, with clear distaste in their expressions for her unconventional presence.

“Caesars, forgive me, but what is this woman doing here? This is hardly the place for a dalliance—”

Geta rose, the speed of it startling some, Letha included. “She is a lady, and you will address her as such,” he corrected, standing before the bravest of the Senators. A display of power, of confidence. Of ego. “That lady is the reason your Emperors still stand and breathe. I believe you owe her an apology.”

He was incensed. Part of Letha almost felt bad for the Senator cowering before Geta, all his fury and splendor making him appear very much like a god. It shouldn’t have been so thrilling to see, but Letha couldn’t help herself.

“I am sorry, my lady,” he spoke, his eyes on Geta. His fear was palpable. 

Caracalla giggled beside her. “It’s not usually this entertaining.”

A few more moments of lording over the senator and Geta stepped back, slightly more composed. “What do you need of us today?” Geta finally asked, sinking back into his seat.

An older senator stood, stepping into the middle of the room, drawing Geta’s gaze. “There was a question of increasing your personal guard’s wages, Caesars?”

“Yes,” another stood, “We do have questions as to the… necessity of this. It is a steep price.”

Geta frowned. “Is our safety not worth the extra expense? We’ve had two attacks in as many days.”

“Well, perhaps if you did not hold such lavish dinner parties every night, the costs could go towards this increase you desire.”

“Senator Gracchus,” Geta smiled, standing. “I will remind you that we have not yet found the person responsible for bribing the Praetorian. Someone wishes us dead.”

Letha froze up in her seat. Yes, someone did. But they were looking in the wrong place. 

“The sum recovered was far too large for an average citizen to come up with,” Geta explained, circling the senator. All others had backed off, allowing all of Geta’s displeasure to focus in on Gracchus. “Should I have you interrogated? Or will you pay Tegula’s men what they are owed?”

A moment longer was all it took before Gracchus wavered, relenting. “They shall have it, Emperor.” A chorus of similar responses sounded throughout the room.

“Very good,” Geta praised, moving past the senator and reclaiming his seat. “What else?”

The doors at the back of the room opened and a tall, hulking figure clad in dark armor and a red cape strode in, bowing before the emperors before rising to his full height. The garish line across the side of his head still looked like it burned, the flesh vividly red around the line. The cut ear.

Letha recognized him immediately. She shrank in her seat, drawing Caracalla’s eye. A flash of her brother’s bruised and bloody face had her squeezing her eyes shut. It wasn’t enough, the image wouldn’t leave.

“Emperor Geta, Emperor Caracalla,” the general greeted. “I have come to report on my men.” He did not spare a glance to Letha. Either he mistook her for another of their concubines, or did not spend enough time in the Senate chambers to know how unusual her presence was. 

“General Plautianus,” Geta greeted. His eyes raked over the violent wound. “What of them?”

“Regrettably, they cannot seem to be contained,” Thraex interjected, eyes on the General as he got to his feet. “They drink the city dry and commit acts of violence upon its citizens. A brawl in a brothel just yesterday required a hefty discretionary payment to appease the owner so he didn’t ban the entire army.”

“They need to be sent away,” Gracchus agreed. “They are bored, and their victories have given them a feeling of entitlement to the city’s offerings.”

Oh, that sounds quite familiar, Letha frowned. So as long as it isn’t taking place in Rome, that’s what matters, she thought bitterly, sinking back into her memories and tuning out the rest of the conversation. 

“Your God-Emperors are cowards,” Letha’s brother spoke, his lip split, his brow leaking blood. His eye socket looked broken, his skin beginning to darken around his eye. 

“You should hold your tongue,” General Plautianus spat, stepping past the man crumpled against the wall. Another soldier knelt beside him, gripping the cloth covering his shoulders tightly, keeping him upright.

“You Romans can’t take a joke,” he laughed. It devolved into a coughing fit not long after, his hands going to his ribs as he grimaced.

Letha looked up, worry filling her as she waited for her brother to recover, desperately trying to figure out how to help him, how to get them out of this mess.

“You should stop talking before you choke on your blood,” another soldier threatened.

“You’d have to hit me a bit harder for that,” he grunted, clearly nursing a broken rib.

“Brother, please!” Letha pleaded, begging for him to be silent. Him egging on their captors would ruin their chances of surviving this night. 

The sound of the harsh slap cut through the room, almost echoing. For a moment Letha couldn’t feel her face at all. Then it all flooded in at once, tears welling, clouding her vision.

She could hear her brother shouting, the soldiers joining in. She tried to ignore the way her cheek stung, too concerned for her brother’s welfare to care about her own. It was one blow versus the great many he’d suffered at their hands already. 

They were holding him down against the wall, it took two of them now. The General stood before her, his hand still outstretched from the slap, though his eyes were cast over his shoulder at her brother as he spouted insulting, angry words.

“You are lucky you’re considered one of Rome’s subjects now,” the General spoke, returning his attention to Letha. “Your dear father pleaded for your safety, and I can think of none better to secure it than me.”

Letha understood his intent, the implication of his words. It was nothing new. It was all men ever did. She couldn’t be dragged to Rome. She refused. As her brother drew his attention once more, his protests much more spirited, she saw only one opportunity to save herself from that future. 

She reached forward and drew the sword from its hilt on his belt, the sound of it drawing all attention to her. It was heavier than she was used to, the blade much wider. Still, she didn’t waste a moment, swinging it recklessly at the General’s head. It drew blood, but the recoil of it hitting his thick skull forced it out of her hands. He roared, his hands moving to cover the red line leaking blood down the side of his head. 

Letha felt the stabbing point of a gladius at her back, the soldier’s boot forcing her flat onto the floor. She wondered if it had drawn blood, it felt quite sharp even through the dress. Even if she had just signed her own death warrant, that would be preferable to the alternative.

Plautianus hissed as he cupped his ear, reaching down for his discarded sword. He used it to tilt her face up, forcing her to see the wound she’d created. “You’ll pay for that,” he assured her.

“Please, just leave her alone,” her brother pleaded. “It was stupid, she shouldn’t have done it, but don’t hurt her.”

His words stung. He was right, it was incredibly stupid of her, but she had to do something–

“No, no–”

The blade had left her chin without her realizing it. It was embedded in her brother’s throat. She screamed.

“Letha,” Caracalla whispered, a hand pressing against her cheek, drawing her back to the present. “Are you alright?” She jumped, crashing out of the vivid memory. He moved his hand down to squeeze hers. “Do you want something to drink?”

She shook her head, eyes landing on Plautianus. He wore the very same armor as that day. 

He is the monster.

“I will think on it,” Geta answered, dismissing the senators. “General, I would like to speak with you, if you have the time.” He wasn’t really asking.

Plautianus nodded, clasping his hands together in front of him, watching the senators as they trickled out of the room. As his eyes scanned the room, they finally landed on her. There was a flicker of recognition in his eyes and he reflexively reached up for the side of his head, to the scar there. He said nothing of it, instead returning his attention to his smiling Emperor.

“Letha,” Geta called out, reaching an arm out for her to join him. Her stomach sank like a stone. “Come on,” he urged, as if he were coaxing a small child into a room full of strangers. As if it were shyness keeping her in her seat. But he didn’t know. How could he know?

She stood on shaky legs and released Caracalla’s hand to walk over, trying to keep her eyes on Geta so she didn’t fall into a state of panic. Even though months had passed, it was now so fresh in her mind, as if it had happened only days ago. She felt ill.

Geta was concerned, but he hid it well. He wrapped an arm around her waist and returned his attention to the General. 

“I’d like to introduce you to Letha,” Geta spoke, looking down at Letha with something close to love in his eyes. Perhaps she was imagining it to save herself from the reality of what was unfolding.

“I don’t believe you two have met, unless… Well, have you?” Geta prodded, all pretense falling away. 

Letha felt herself suck in a deep breath at the realization. Geta knew. How much, she couldn’t say. But he knew of their meeting, likely how she was brought to Rome. How she was purchased by Macrinus. From Macrinus himself, she thought. It would explain their new closeness. What else had Macrinus shared?

General Plautianus seemed just as caught off guard. He looked like he wasn’t sure if he ought to lie, or admit to his crime. 

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Geta frowned. “Ancus,” he muttered, signaling for him to approach. 

Ancus moved swiftly behind the General, pressing his boot into the back of Plautianus’s knee to force him onto the marble, his hands gripping the pauldrons to keep the General still.

“Raptio,” Geta spat, “is a crime, General. Just in case you’ve forgotten.”

The sound of a sword being drawn sent shivers of revulsion down Letha’s spine. The tremors that Geta had stilled with his hand at her lower back resumed. The General looked truly frightened. It didn’t fill Letha with any amount of satisfaction. She was just as scared as he was.

Geta raised the General’s sword high so he could inspect the edge, trying to determine its sharpness. He pressed the blade to the spot just above the chestplate, letting the tip bite through the cloth covering the base of his throat before turning to Letha, ignoring the General altogether.

“Should he be killed?”

Letha could see now the warnings she’d been given. Geta was deadly. He was clever and vengeful and violent. But he hid it well. So well. Much better than Caracalla. Seeing the senators scared to defy him, the way his General seemed scared of his whims, she should’ve been scared of him too. 

But it was never directed at her. And even now, it was being done in service of her desires, her wants. She felt… honored. He was offering her a gift. A declaration of love if looked at in the right light. 

She felt her own love for him beginning to bud, but her memories were too distracting in the moment, keeping her expression empty, her body trembling. If they were somewhere else, she might have taken the time to explain, so he’d understand she wasn’t spurning him intentionally, she just couldn’t get a handle on her own mind.

“Emperor!” Plautianus lifted his hands up from his waist, his plea desperate. “T-This is improper.” 

Geta glowered down at him, his eyes narrowed. 

“She attacked us,” he tried to explain. Ancus kept his knees pressed to the floor.

“Quiet!” Geta ordered, glaring at the General. He returned his eyes to Letha’s, his gaze softening immediately.

In that moment all Letha could do was stand there and try to keep her tears at bay. 

Was this the same sword used on her brother?

Geta was patient, reading into the way she shook slightly, a bead of sweat falling down over her temple. She was terrified. Perhaps now wasn’t the best time. He could drag him out again later on, when she felt more up to it.

“It seems Justicia has saved you today, Plautianus. Find solace in your cell.”

The sword was silently returned to Ancus and as soon as it left Geta’s hand he brought her back in close, whisking her away from the scene and over to the golden thrones. 

“Brother?” Caracalla asked, clearly confused.

“I will explain later,” Geta spoke, his eyes focused on Letha. His hands found her cheeks, attempting to soothe her. “I should not have sprung that upon you,” he realized. 

“I-I do not think–I think I should lie down,” she confessed, a tear spilling down her cheek. She could see the heartbreak plain in Geta’s eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t think I can attend the games today, I don’t feel well.”

“It’s fine,” Geta assured her, smoothing her hair out of her face. “I should have warned you.”

She couldn’t say anything more, couldn’t offer some placating remark to soothe his mood. She needed calm and quiet, and she wouldn’t get that from the arena. She hoped he understood that.

[ Part IX ]

[pupkinpumpkin]

Oh fuck I completely forgot

K, so, in Asunder, there's a scene where Lord Seeker Lambert comes to Evangeline's room and gives her 4 vials of lyrium for her trip

Later on in Asunder, when the team is coming back from the Western Approach,

1) Evangeline (Or Rhys, I don't remember who) notes that it's been two weeks since they left

2) When Rhys tries to convince Evangeline to run away with him, she shows him 3 empty vials and 1 full vial of lyrium (I think, the 4th vial might also be a bit empty). She says she's addicted and will be useless in a week. She also repeats this later on to Wynne

So we can conclude:

- Once a Templar is addicted, it takes about a week for the withdrawal symptoms to come in. Evangeline doesn't abuse the stuff though, and she shows a lot of restraint, so this might be the wait time for an average Templar, but it's probably much shorter for a Templar who's actively abusing lyrium

- We have no idea if Evangeline's taking lyrium one vial at a time or taking micro doses, but three full vials of lyrium are gone in the span of two weeks, meaning she's taking this shit pretty regularly. To my knowledge, we've never had an idea of how often Templars are taking lyrium, so this is great information to have

I can't remember fully where it's said, so correct me if I'm wrong, but Cullen, when talking about becoming a Templar, says that after their Vigil, they get a philter (a box of stuff that prepares the lyrium), and their first draught of lyrium, so Evangeline probably has this on her during her trip and philters are needed in order to properly take lyrium

Now for the iffy part

- In Origins, Alistair says he's never taken lyrium. This is a lie, but probably one he didn't know about

- The Joining requires lyrium as an ingredient, so Alistair definitely ingested at least a little bit

- Alistair is able to use his powers as a Templar for an entire year

As much as I'd like this to mean Templars definitely don't need to be taking lyrium as often as they do, there could be multiple reasons for this

- The amount of time lyrium works for a Templar simply got retconned and they do actually need to take lyrium often. Boo

- Bc The Joining changes a Grey Warden forever, it's possible that the lyrium is now permanently in a Grey Warden's veins just like the taint is, meaning Alistair could use his Templar powers forever if he wanted

- Alistair is just the Maker's specialist little boy and gets to be exempt from things like withdrawals because of his family's bloodline.

Also, in the Silent Grove, like 8 years after Origins I think, when Alistair, Varric, Isabela, and Maevaris are surrounded by mage occultists or whatever, Alistair uses his Templar powers. Someone asks him how he did this, and he just says something like "I knew we were coming to Tevinter so I decided my Templar powers would be useful, so I got back into practice"

We never find out what this means

Whether he decided to take a little bit of lyrium, or is just cool enough to not need it, is up to anyone

We also have no idea how long Cullen is able to use his Templar powers in Inquisition since I'm pretty sure we never see him in action besides in his personal quest when trying to find Samson, but he'd literally have no reason to use Templar powers on other Templars, so who knows?

So in all, we've basically no clue how often Templars NEED to take lyrium and no official date for how long their powers last after they stop taking it, but we do know ~generally~ how often they're taking it, which I don't believe we knew before

I personally like to think that Templars could just take lyrium like once a year but the Chantry likes to have them on a leash so they make them take it way more often so they get addicted because the Chantry is terrible

But ya, that one line made me spiral

[sweetbillwriting]

Way Out of Line

SIX

Beneath my perfume and make-up I'm just a baby in disguise. And though I know that it's wrong to be alone with him that "come on look" is in my eyes.

Character: Keith Toshko from Barbarian (2022) played by Bill Skarsgård.

Warnings: 18+, NSFW, heavy themes.

I wore a simple skater dress with a pair of black ballerina flats. You could see the dress was expensive, though, because it was made with thick black silk. It was purchased that autumn but I had only worn it once to the Thanksgiving dinner one of my dad's patients held. I felt really pretty in the dress but not too overdressed, but I was compared to Keith. He didn't seem to be the kind of guy who dressed up, and he wore the same outfit from earlier that day. I didn't mind because he looked handsome in everything, and it was a bit sexy that he didn't care, even if the restaurant was a really fancy one. I was once again surprised he had spent so much money on me, and I looked at him with big eyes while he ordered champagne for himself.

“I’ll have the same,” I said with a blush. Keith turned his eyes to me.

“You don't need to, honey.”

“I want to.”

I smiled a little and turned towards the waiter again.

“Okay…” Keith looked at the waiter and smacked his lips. “Bring us the bottle then. Dom Perignon."

We cheered in our sparkling wine, and he told me about his younger years. For a couple of years he lived in the town we were in. He was an off the books working musician and also found extra work in an industry making glass bottles. It was a simple life, but he talked about it like it had been wonderful years.

“How old were you?” I asked with a smile while they served our first course.

“It was when I dropped out of college, so 24, 25?”

He started to eat his foie gras like he ate a fried egg, but right then and there I didn't think about how nonchalantly he ate the luxury food but just imagined a younger Keith.

“Why did you become friends with my dad? He was like thirty when you were twenty…”

Keith licked his knife and looked at me with his big green eyes. He looked so kind and innocent now as he sat there, compared to how I had seen him before.

“I guess we got along, and he didn't treat me like I was just… yeah.” He shrugged his shoulders and licked off his fork too. I nodded a little even if I didn't know what he meant. He cleared his throat and took one more sip of the champagne. I could see that he didn't want to talk about my dad anymore. Instead he asked me about what I would do during the weeks he was away, and that led us to talk about my family's yearly ski trip to Aspen. Keith didn't ski but still seemed curious about our trip that we would leave for in a week. He was sweet that way, always showing interest in my things.

The nice conversation, the good food, and his warm smile in candlelight made me relax a bit too much, so when Keith ordered a bottle of red wine for our venison, I drank some of that too. I never drank so much, and on the way home, it was obvious to everyone around us that I was really drunk.

If I had been more sober, I would have noticed people looking at us in a different way now when I needed to lean on him and my mascara had started to smudge. Earlier we had gotten away with him looking older than me, but now people looked at him skeptically when he almost carried me to a taxi and I was whining about how sorry I was. He was also so much bigger than me that there was no question he owned all the power.

“Miss, are you okay?” asked a middle-aged couple when we stood waiting on the elevator. I was pressed against Keith's side and whined about the spinning world around me. Keith looked at the couple, then down at me.

“Yeah?” I said, trying to hold my gaze straight.

“Are you here with your—?” Asked the man before looking at Keith. He looked at him with fear but kept himself straight because he knew he couldn't do anything there.

I giggled a little, totally oblivious to their worry but that was also what made my answer much more sincere and believable.

“Keith? He's my boyfriend.” I looked at him and spilled all my daydreams like they were real facts. “I love him so much. We will get married one day.” I giggled and hugged him around his waist. Keith smiled at the couple awkwardly.

“I promise you, there was just a bit too much wine for dinner,” he said and then turned his gaze to the elevator door that opened in front of our eyes. The woman giggled a little.

“Okay, have a nice night.”

“You too,” said Keith with a strained smile while leading me into the empty elevator. When the door had closed, I looked up at him with a dopey smile. He smiled back with a sigh and dragged his hands through my hair.

“I will never give you wine again.”

I giggled and stood up on my toes so he could kiss me, and he did while holding me up straight. Even if my head was spinning and I felt a bit sick, I couldn't understand why he didn't think I should drink alcohol. I felt sexy, confident, and brave, so when our kiss should have been over, I deepened it and dragged my hand over his crotch. Even through the thick denim fabric, I could feel his bulge, and my pulse wandered down between my legs at once. Keith breathed out deeply in my mouth and continued to kiss me while I unbuttoned his jeans and snuck down my hand in his charcoal-colored boxers. My hand met his half-hard length, and I took hold of it firmly. Even if I had been so confident from the alcohol, I became nervous when I actually stood there with my hand in his underwear. I didn't have a clue what I should do next. I wanted to be that wild, sexy girl, but I couldn't because I didn't know how they acted. The nerves made me also feel more sick, and I stumbled slightly when Keith leaned back to see what I did to him. He caught me in his arms at once and sighed again. Carefully he pulled my hand away from him and laid it on his chest instead.

“This is not a good idea, baby girl. You need to sleep and… We're in an elevator.”

I looked up at him in shame, close to tears, but the elevator opening interrupted me. Lucky for us, there was no one outside of it, so Keith lifted me up koala style and let his jeans hang open. It was nice being carried through the hallway without needing to think about putting my foot in front of the other. I just needed to think about Keith's heavenly scent and his broad shoulders. I really wanted him, but he was probably right. I needed to sleep.

In the suite, Keith sat me down on the bed and helped me with my coat and shoes. Even if he was crouched down in front of me, he felt so big, and for a short second, I felt so powerless. I really was alone with such a big man. He could do whatever he wanted with me, but when he looked up at me with his boyish good looks, I forgot about the silly feeling and just giggled when he stood up to be able to open the zipper on the back of my dress and pull it off of my body with some struggle. I watched him hanging it up in a hanger in the wardrobe and putting my shoes and coat by the door. It looked like he was used to taking care of someone, so when he asked me to lie down so he could pull off my tights, I remembered the nickname he wanted to be called.

“You're my Daddy…”

I could feel his fingers on the lining of the tights stop moving just for a second, and then I could hear him say in a soft, protective way:

“Yes, baby girl. And I will take care of you. Just like a daddy should.”

I smiled and closed my eyes while he pulled off my tights. I had totally forgotten I wore the black lingerie set and how the lace didn't cover much of me; still, Keith didn't say anything about it.

“Do you want me to take off the bra or do you want to sleep in it?”

“Hmm?” I looked down at my chest, seeing the delicate fabric, and then sat up on my elbows so I could also see the panties. Keith stood in front of me with his hands on my knees, caressing them gently. I looked at him, even examined everything with him before spreading my legs even more, knowing he could see most of me.

“I want you, Daddy.”

Keith smiled but looked a little condescending when he laughed lowly.

“I can see that, but you need to sleep.”

“But Daddy…” I whined, letting the role of a whiny little girl take over. Playing the role was easy because, if I were honest, it had never left me; it was just that I whined for other things now.

“You're drunk and vulnerable right now. Whether you like it or not, I will not sleep with you in that state.”

I pouted, but he just answered with a laugh and then lifted me up and laid me down on the pillow.

“Bra on or off?” He said softly, as he played with the strap.

“Off,” I muttered. Keith was just smirking, amused at me, while he helped me pull off my triangle bra over my head which revealed my chest for him. I didn't want to cover up and instead challenged him by sitting up on my elbows.

“Daddy…” I whine again. It was weird how quickly the pet name had become his, but at that moment I couldn't see him as anything else. I knew he wasn't my boyfriend, but not just a friend. He was too caring to be a friend with benefits. He was my Daddy. Keith hushed me and laid the cover over me.

“The makeup and the rest we’ll take care of tomorrow, okay? Goodnight, baby.”

He hadn't even taken off his clothes, and I furrowed my brows.

“You don’t even lie in bed?”

“No, I will make myself ready for bed in the bathroom, and when I come out, you will be asleep.”

“No, I won't?”

"Yes, you will. Shut your eyes now.” He gave me a forehead kiss while I rolled my eyes under my eyelids. He spoke like he knew so much, but he also did because the next day when I woke up, I couldn't even remember him walking to the bathroom.

×××

I'm making the most of my life 'til the day that I hit 25. I know that they'll make an adult of me. I know that I'm not quite ready to be…

Of course I had heard about hangovers and feeling gross the next day after intoxication, but I had never experienced it, nor that morning did I feel it. I woke up almost on top of Keith's broad, naked body, using him more as a mattress than the bed. Carefully, I sat up to be able to see his face. His face lay in profile, pushed down in the pillow while he was snoring lightly. He was so beautiful, and I traced his jaw and cheekbone with my finger. He could have been a model if he wanted to. I looked down on his body again. His body was so attractive and manly, and when I looked at his member, my nether regions involuntarily clenched. He was soft, but still my body reacted to it. I wanted him inside of me again. It was a foreign feeling, the horniness, but with him I wanted to embrace it. It was too exciting together with him.

I pulled off my panties so I was as bare as him, then I scooted close to his body. I wanted him so bad that the feeling of needing to pee came back, and I pushed my fingers against my pussy to stop the pressure.

“Daddy, please wake up? Daddy?” I whined, pushing his chest. I continued to do so until I realized I needed to do more than that to wake him up. Clumsily, I mounted him and shook his shoulders.

“Daddy!”

Keith opened his eyes groggily and dragged a hand over his face. He started with looking at my face, but it didn't take long for him to realize I sat naked over his naked body and how I was so wet he could feel it seeping out on his lower belly. He didn't say anything; instead, he closed his eyes but dragged his hands over my naked thighs, hips, and bum. I started to believe he would continue to sleep, so I wiggled on top of him.

“Daddy!”

He hushed me but continued to drag his big hands over me, coming closer and closer to my pussy. I leaned back when I realized he wouldn't sleep at all and instead invited his fingers in between my lips to drag them through my wetness. I hoped he would find my clit again, but he was searching for my opening to see if I was ready for more than just a couple of fingers. He forced his fingers in harshly and moved them in and out of me in the same way. It did hurt a little, but I had started to get used to his harsher ways. With his other hand he took a hold of himself, his cock that was fully erect now, and asked for playtime.

“Lean forward…” He whispered and pulled his hand away from my pussy so he could push my back lightly. I did what I was told because I wanted the same thing as he, and I giggled when he dragged the head of his cock between my lips and cheeks. Keith gave me a dimpled smile but didn't open his eyes.

“It will probably hurt a bit now too, okay? I don't think you've gotten used to me.”

I looked at his face even if his eyes were shut.

“Okay…”

With one hand on my left cheek, he steered my hips, and the other holding his stiffness in place, he pushed himself in, in my sore pussy. I was obviously sore from the day before because it burned. I made some pained sounds that made Keith open his eyes, but instead of asking for relief, I sat up so more of him glided into my entrance.

Keith sat up on his elbow, so I sunk down even more on him, and he looked at me with a smirk.

“Good girl…”

I whined but let Keith force my ass down completely against him. I could feel him up in my belly and felt sick for a while until he lifted his hips so I fell forward against his chest a bit.

“Does it hurt?”

“Yes.”

“Do you want to stop?”

“No. God no.”

“Ride it then. Ride me hard.”

I moved the best I could against him, but he corrected my rhythm over and over. Some things did hurt too much, though; when he slipped in too deep or when he made me lay against his chest and fucked me so hard I could feel bruises shape just on the skin around my opening. I didn't stop though, not even when he put the soles of his feet against the bed and worked his hips up so hard I bounced on his length. He hit something in me that felt like a stabbing in my belly, but I didn't stop because it was too good to be close to him, to feel his hands and eyes on me. It felt like he was owning me for that moment. I wanted to be his in one way or another, and in that moment there was no doubt I was his.

I wasn't ready that in the middle of the pain an orgasm would start to build, but as soon as I started to moan louder and faster, Keith reacted and worked his hips even harder. Together we became louder, drowning out the sound of our slapping skin.

“Let it go! Let it go, baby!” He growled until I finally got ripped apart by the orgasm spreading from my pussy out in my limbs. I didn't notice that he came too until I felt his sticky juice run out of me, but he continued to work himself out of me even if the cream coated both of our sexes. He just continued to push it in until he was too soft to continue.

He laughed a little while lifting me off of him. I felt completely boneless but also so sore my pussy felt like an open wound. Still, I just looked at him like he was God himself. I had never felt anything like this and thought to myself that he was the meaning of life.

We lay next to each other, breathing deeply, until he smiled big at me.

“Your pussy is fucking heaven… Baby girl…”

He looked down and forced my knees apart so he could look at my pussy, spastic and swollen, smeared with his seed. I feared he would touch me again but he also knew I wouldn't say no to him.

“I will take care of her… Can you stand up?”

I shook my head because for me it was obvious my weak legs didn't work for the moment. Keith smirked a little and stood up on his own strong legs. His thigh muscles moved with every step.

“It's hard to take a shower then, but she can't look like that…” He lifted me up easily, bridal style, and took me to the bathroom. I wondered what he would do but followed him with an open mind.

Keith sat me down on the counter by the basin and encouraged me to put my feet up too. I felt really exposed where I sat naked with my legs spread like that, but I could also feel myself get wet again while Keith stood naked next to me, wetting a towel he would probably wash my intimate parts with. I could hear my pulse in my ears because I would have never let a guy do such a thing to me, never let a guy see me that exposed, but now I was there having a grown man pressing a wet towel between my legs like I couldn't take care of myself. Still, I liked it. I laid my hands on Keith's shoulders while he washed me, and I looked at his face. He looked so sweet and kind. He almost looked angelic with his big eyes, pixie nose, and full lips, but then he looked up at me with a hooded gaze and a small smirk. A look that changed his face.

“Say ‘thank you, daddy,’” he said when he was finished, still with the same dark expression. I looked at him with big eyes, mesmerized by his beauty.

“Thank you, Daddy.”

Cross my heart, uncross my legs. Oh, when I'm done, I better pray. I want the high, I want the rush. Don’t call it love, that's not enough…

×××

We had been careless and hadn't thought about protection, but when Keith realized I wasn't using any contraceptive, he hurried right away to buy the morning-after pill and then left me alone in the suite. I took the time to rest and showered when I felt the strength in my legs come back. In the shower I realized that Keith and I would say goodbye in just hours, and a lump formed in my throat. We had lived together for more than a month, but now he would go away for such a long time. I wanted to feel sure that he wouldn't forget me and that he wouldn't be with another girl, but I wasn't. Keith wasn't my boyfriend; he was someone else's husband albeit going through a divorce. In a way I was the mistress, but I couldn't be sure he would be satisfied with just me.

What did I even know about him? He had met my whole family; he knew where I studied and about my previous relationship. What did I know?

Dressed in just a fluffy robe after my shower, I opened his big suitcase, packed with all the belongings he had gotten from his separation. T-shirts and sweaters were folded in neat piles together with his laptop, cables, and earphones. In a pocket on the lid was a pair of running shoes and a burgundy raincoat. There wasn't much more than that, so instead I looked through his wallet that lay on the nightstand; he must have just taken a credit card with him. He had several credit cards, a gym membership card, his ID card, and a black anonymous card. I took a long look at his ID and dragged a finger over his picture. He looked so innocent with his big eyes looking directly into the camera. I gazed at the image with warm cheeks but laid the wallet down when I could feel the clock ticking. I walked back to the bathroom, but instead of fixing my hair as my plan was, I started to dig through his toiletry bag. It was dark blue and contained drugstore skin care and a well-used toothbrush in pink. It didn't look so interesting at first, but then in an inside pocket some interesting things were tucked in. Three condoms, a business card from a Susanne Leonel, and his wedding band. The ring was in brushed gold with a line in the middle made of platinum. I felt a bit sick looking at it in my palm, but I still tried it on all my fingers. It was far too big, and even if I felt sick knowing it was his wedding band, I smirked to myself. He was so big. While taking it off my little finger, I saw the engraving inside of it and gave it a closer look.

May & Keith 2015-05-30

“May”? Was that her name? Was his wife's name May? Was that even a name? I tried to picture how a May could look and could just see an old lady in front of me. I looked at myself in the mirror and let the robe slip down from my shoulders. I knew I was pretty, but I also knew I still looked a bit childish. May didn't look childish; I knew that. She probably was the same age as Keith; they had been married far too long for her to be much younger. Ten years. I was eleven when they got married. It was a weird thought, but I would rather be his young mistress than his old wife. I knew he would pick me over her. I opened up the robe and let it fall to the floor. I looked at my body closely, dragging my hands over perky nipples and rounded hips. He would pick me over May. I put the ring on my index finger and smirked at my own reflection. He didn't need the ring anymore so instead of putting it back in his toiletry bag I put it down inside my own, then I walked out naked to the bed, waiting for him with my legs spread wide.

The skyline falls as I try to make sense of it all. I thought I'd uncovered your secrets, but, turns out, there's more…

×××

Keith drove me home but not the whole way so my parents wouldn't see him come back. With teary eyes and a pussy that felt ripped apart, I said goodbye to him. He gave me several kisses while I begged him, Daddy, to not go, but he explained he needed to do his job, then he left me alone on the side of the road a few houses from my parents’ house, with my tears streaming. I knew I was silly, but something about him made me feel so small, like he needed to be close to me and take care of me. It was a tragic thought that I wouldn't see him for three whole weeks, and when I came into the house, I didn't even try to hide my tears. My dad looked up at me from the dinner table where he sat with his laptop and furrowed his brows.

“What is it, honey?”

“I just feel sick. I think I got the flu…” I cried and dried my cheeks while walking up the stairs. He walked out to the hallway and looked after me.

“Should I make some tea for you?”

“It's okay, Dad.”

I didn't even think about how I addressed him, but unconsciously he had become just Dad now. I had another Daddy now, the only man who could care and protect me. Keith Toshko.

×××

Don't leave me lonely. Don't leave me unhappy. Just bring me up into your fate. If you don't need me, then don't deceive me. Letting my freedom turn into stone. Just be my angel, if you love me…

I had stayed in my room, lying in bed like I actually was sick. My mom had checked up on me a couple of times, stroking my hair away from my forehead that wasn't warm and giving me tea for a throat that wasn't sore. The only thing that was sore was my pussy but also my aching heart. I missed him so much already, so when I got a text from him saying he took a break from the car ride to eat at McDonald's, I could feel my heart beating like a drum in my chest.

I miss you so much already.

I miss you too, baby. But I need to work. How are you feeling? Still sore?

I felt a blush on my cheeks because not only did I think about our time in the hotel room but also what I had said outside of the elevator. I had told the couple I loved him. I laid my hands over my face and made an involuntary sound of embarrassment. I was glad he hadn't brought it up because I understood he didn't have those feelings for me yet. He was not as naive and childish as me, but I didn't really know what I said was true either.

Yes, still sore. Do you know something that can help?

Haha, I dunno. I want to help you, baby, but I've never had those problems myself. I think you can buy calming creams at the drugstore. I think I remember something about yogurt, but that might be because it tastes better than lotion haha.

He could make me blush even if he was miles away, but the thing about yogurt didn't sound completely stupid; it sounded nice to have something cooling on, so I let him wait so I could get some yogurt, and he could guide me through it.

I walked down the stairs, obviously happier than I had been before, and prepared myself to say I felt better to my parents, but instead I sneaked into the kitchen where they were to not interrupt their conversation. Their conversation about Keith.

“That's so typical of him. Why can't he just accept a friendly hand for once?” Said my mom while she fixed herself a smoothie.

“I don't know. I guess he's just used to solving things like that,” answered my dad, leaning against the counter nonchalantly. It was obvious he didn't care as much as my mom. I opened the fridge, pretending to mind my own business.

“Solving? There is nothing to solve. We opened our home because we were worried for him, not to get money!”

“It's just his way to say thank you, Giselle. It's not like he can't afford it.”

“I know he can afford it! It's just sad that he feels obligated to pay everyone around him.”

I couldn't stop myself from turning around to look at them. I could almost guess what they were implying, but it didn't add up with Keith's humble ways.

“Is he rich?” I asked with the vanilla yogurt in my hand. My parents look at each other. My mom looked uncomfortable, but my dad just sighed.

“Yes. Keith is rich. Toshko Electronics?” With a finger, he lazily hit the logo on the mixer. “It's his family's company. He's filthy rich. He really wants to pretend to be a struggling artist, so don't say anything about it when he comes home again.”

I could hear a buzzing sound in my ears. It was probably the sound of all my thoughts and feelings flying around in my head. Keith was rich. Keith was a rich man in a divorce.

“His divorce will take ages, will it not?” I asked hopelessly without thinking about my question being weird. My mom gave me a strange look, but my dad seemed unbothered.

“Probably. She wants money while his family will not let her win, even if he just wants a friendly end.”

I could feel my eyes tearing up, and my mom gave me a worried look.

“What is it, honey?”

“Um… I just feel sorry for him. He's a really nice man. He deserves to move on.”

My mom nodded, but I could see in her eyes that she didn't really believe what I was saying. While I took a spoon, I ignored her looks, and then I walked up to my room where my phone rested on a pink pillow. Keith had sent one more message: his username on Snapchat.

So I can teach you how to put that yogurt on. It can get messy ;)

×

[audliminal]

It's Just a Game, Right? Pt 3 Redux

Masterpost

"It's a pun." Tim announces, the second he steps into Bernard’s apartment. He waves a folder at his boyfriend, moving to spread it’s contents out on his table.

“What’s a pun?” Bernard asks as he leans over to look at the annotated sheet music Tim has produced.

“The random notes are discordant because they’re off-key. And the off-key­ notes are the key to the Caesar Ciphers.”

“Oh,” Bernard says, leaning in closer to read one of the notes. The person Tim had hired had done an exceptional job; they were a bit bemused by the request, but once they’d gotten started they’d managed to transcribe a clean copy of Space Oddity, and then they’d not just identified the incorrect notes, but explained why they were wrong. Tim wasn’t sure all the information would be necessary for the puzzle, but it had been interesting nonetheless.

“Also I made a mistake the other day,” Tim says. “I’d assumed that the key to the ciphers wasn’t in the scale, because a scale has seven notes, but actually it has twelve.”

“Wait, what?”

“The chromatic scale; the complete set of possible notes in nearly all western music,” Tim clarifies. “Not the eight notes that make up a standard key, but the twelve that encompass every note available in a single octave. Apparently it’s not always twelve, though. The number of pitch classes can range a lot, though most stay below twenty in number. The Gamma scale, interestingly, was invented for the 1986 Beauty and the Beast film, in order to create near perfect triads. I couldn’t really tell the difference, but the sample notes sounded… interesting.”

Bernard, who had torn his head away from the musical score, stares at him for a long moment, before he starts to grin.

“You went on a Wikipedia dive.”

“I did. It was very interesting and also, very much not my field of expertise. Also, most of what I read doesn’t relate to your game.”

“That would be crazy if it did,” Bernard says.

“The point being, that some of the discordant notes correspond with the shifting of the images. Whichever incorrect note is closest in measure to the moment the image changes, is the key to that individual cipher, with how much it’s been shifted up or down.”

"Damn, okay." Bernard looks back down at the sheet music, then straightens. “A pun, huh? Good to know they have a sense of humor.”

“Puns are quite literally a play on double-meanings so they’ll probably pop up elsewhere. In my experience they’re pretty useful in puzzle and riddle design.”

“Huh.” Bernard tilts his head considering the new information. “I wonder if the Riddler uses many puns...”

"All the time, actually."

"Dude, why do you just know that?" Tim freezes, remembering too late that most people don't have access to dossiers on every rogue. "No, never mind I know you're like, weirdly knowledgeable about the bats and the rogues; I shouldn't be surprised."

"Well, maybe everyone should pay a little more attention to rogues’ MOs," Tim says pointedly. "They are generally considered to be the most serious safety threat in Gotham, after all.

"I mean, I know generally what their deals are, I just don't go all Genius-Mode about it." Bernard laughs, then gets a thoughtful look on his face. Oh no, Tim thinks. "Hey, maybe the bats should, like, commission your help to deal with the Riddler. I'd bet you'd work through his weird puzzles in like, ten minutes!"

"I feel like they're doing fine as is."

"Yeah, I guess, but like. What if they could do it even faster, right?"

"Maybe." Tim fiddles with his pen. "Do you want to know what else I found?"

“Yes, please.”

"I noticed that the length of time for each photo was different each time. I thought it might be a choice based on the music, since they always shift in time with a note, but there wasn't any logical pattern I could find there."

"I mean, that doesn't seem like a dead-end, that just sounds like we're missing something."

"Exactly. So I made a list of the duration between each incorrect note, and I ran that through a code checker, and it turned out to be encoded in base 26." Tim sets down the next page in his folder and points to the corresponding list of numbers, and then below it, to where he's written out the translation. With any luck, Bernard will focus on the transcription, and won’t ask what code checker Tim used.

"Dude." Bernard says, eyes wide as he stares at the page. “That’s ominous as fuck.”

“That’s one way to put it,” Tim says. When he’d gotten the translation back, he’d felt his blood go cold. He’d practically much fled the Batcave, as soon as he had the software properly closed.

"This is so cool!" Bernard exclaims grabbing at Tim's shoulders and shaking him lightly, accidentally pulling his attention back into the moment. "How have I not dragged you into solving ARGs before this? You're actually so good at it! Just wait till I tell everyone on the forum!"

Tim blinks, Bernard's sudden excitement is a jarring juxtaposition against the words on the page; completely unlike the dread and adrenaline that starts to kick up in Tim’s stomach when he thinks about it. But he can’t blame his boyfriend; this whole thing is just a game. And the people that wrote this, that made these videos, that encoded these messages – the real people, are having fun. He should be too.

Tim takes a deep breath and does his best to match Bernard's excitement. But the words on the page keep staring back at him.

help us please help us

[musings-of-a-rose]

Hi there 🙏 thanks for answer me, you can take your time 😊 I am such a fan of some of your fanfics so I know you can write something for me.

I wasn't really feel comfortable with my body like the usually, so I would really love something about Benny comforting reader about her body issues, something like soft but also smutty.. all the smut you can bring to the table (I read your work so I trust you can do it 😂❤️) it can start softly and then go to the dirty smut... That's all I ask for 🙏.

Take your time of course I'll wait excited ☺️

I'm Really Into You - Part 3

Pairing: Benny Miller x f!reader "Poppy"

Word Count: 1900+

Rating: Mature - 18+ ONLY!

Warnings: Just like ao3, “creator chooses not to use warnings.” If you click Keep Reading, that means you agree that you’re the age to handle mature themes. Also by clicking Keep Reading, you understand warnings may not be complete in order to avoid spoilers for the story. 

Notes: Hi Nonnie! I'm so sorry to make you wait! I hope it's ok, but your ask reminded me of another ask I had received years ago that had 2 parts. So I made this a part 3! I'll have parts 1 and 2 linked below in case you haven't read them. Thank you so much for waiting!

**If you want to be added to the taglist, join here or let me know!

❤If you enjoy the fic, please consider giving me a warm beverage! (It is not required in any way!)

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**Reader is not described

Main Masterlist

Benny Miller Masterlist

I’m Really Into You Part 1

I’m Really Into You Part 2

I hate our bi-annual meetings at work. They’re supposed to be “fun team morale building”, but all they do is make me feel like shit. Because, inevitably, someone is going to comment on my weight. “You’ve lost weight!” or “Oh, you look the same!”. I once had someone tell me I looked like I had gained weight. People tend to not have filters when you’re not a size 2. I hit Benny’s speed dial on my phone and he picks up after the second ring.

“Hey sweetheart! You on your way over?” I sigh. “Hey, you ok?”

He always seems to know. “Yeah.”

“Poppy?”

I pause a moment. “Just…people at work suck.”

“Wanna talk about it?”

“No…yes? I don’t know. Maybe I should just go to my place tonight and we can do dinner tomorrow.”

There’s a pause. “If that’s what you want, sure. But I really want you to come over. I miss you.”

A small smile tugs at my lips. “You just saw me yesterday.”

He lets out an overly dramatic whine. “That was forever ago!”

I can’t help but chuckle, picturing his beautiful face and bright blue eyes with a dramatic pout on his lips. “Ok, ok. I’m coming.”

“Yeah you will.”

“Benny!”

“What? I’m psychic too! I can see your future!”

15 minutes later, I pull into his driveway. I glance in the mirror, patting down my hair a little before saying “Fuck it” and just grabbing my bag and walking to the front door. I barely raise my fist to knock before he opens the door, immediately cupping my face and kissing me. It takes me a second but finally I respond, leaning into his kiss as best I can with my bag in one hand and my travel cup in the other.

“Hi, sweetheart,” Benny pulls back just enough to look at me, his large hands still cupping my face. 

“Hi Benny.”

He drops my face and takes my bag, letting me enter and take off my shoes while he closes and locks the door. He hangs my bag on a hook and I follow him over to the couch, where he has a drink and some snacks already sitting out. I sit and look at the snacks, tears welling in my eyes.

“Hey hey! No, I didn’t get the chips you hate, I promise!”

I smile sadly, the tears starting to fall as I desperately try to choke them back, wiping at my face with my sleeve. “N-no, you’re perfect.”

He places his hand on my leg. “Then what is it? Was it work?” When I don’t answer, a flash of anger crosses his face. “Those fuckers.”

I let out a choked laugh. “Yeah, they mean well. I think? It’s just…nevermind.”

Benny squeezes my leg. “You can tell me anything, Poppy.”

I take a deep breath. I promised myself I would be open with Benny, especially after he bared himself to me, telling me all about his ptsd and his nightmares, his insecurities, all of it. 

“At these big team meetings we have twice a year, I see people I don’t normally see. There’s the usual small talk, but someone almost always talks about my weight. Whether I look like I’ve lost a few pounds, look the same, or even gained weight. Once I had lost about 10 pounds and someone asked if I had gained.” I bury my face in my hands, the tears flowing out. “I’m used to the comments but they still hurt,” my voice is muffled but he hears me. 

Gently, Benny grips my forearms, pulling them away from my face before he cups it, waiting for my eyes to find his. “Fuck them, Poppy. You’re gorgeous.”

That sad smile crosses my face again. “You have to say that since you’re my boyfriend. For some reason.” I didn’t mean to say that last part out loud, but I did. 

“What?” Benny said in disbelief.

“It’s just you’re so-” I gesture at him. “-hot. And I’m just-” I gesture at myself. “-me.”

“Poppy, I have thought you were gorgeous from the moment I laid eyes on you. I wanted all of you. Your curves, your tits, your ass, your eyes, you. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me and I don’t know what I did to deserve you because I’ve definitely done some fucked up shit in my life.”

I open my mouth to reply, but he presses a finger to my lips. “Let me show you.” He replaces his finger with his lips, soft at first, his tongue gently pressing against my mouth. I part my lips and he slides his tongue in, dancing around with my own. He gently presses on my shoulders to get me to lie down on my back and I comply, his lips kissing down my jaw and sucking on a spot on my neck that has me gasping. His fingers deftly undo the buttons on my shirt and he flings it open, his lips starting a path down to my chest. 

“Ooo front open bra!” 

I can’t help but giggle at his enthusiasm, the laugh catching in my throat as he pops open my bra and immediately starts lapping at my chest, tongue swirling around my nipples. He sucks one in his mouth and I groan, pressing my hips up against his, feeling how hard he is in his pants already. He pulls his head back and grabs a boob in each hand, kneading and squeezing them as he brushes his thumb over my peaked nipples.

“These are the best tits I’ve ever seen. And I get to put them in my mouth.” He resumes lapping at them, chuckling darkly when my hips buck up again, a quiet moan all I can manage in response. He pulls the top of my skirt down slightly and starts to move down to my stomach, and this is where I twitch. He knows it’s a sensitive area for me, always self-conscious. But he takes his time, kissing and licking and gripping me, bucking his own hips into the couch. 

“Fuck you are so hot. I love your curves.”

He bunches the edges of my skirt up in his fists, kissing my thighs as he does so. Then he looks up at me, a sparkle in his eyes as he winks, his head disappearing under my skirt. He presses my legs apart more and before I can say anything, he slides my underwear to the side and licks straight up me, my hips bucking into his face. He slides an arm across my lower belly, firmly keeping me in place as he laps at me, his tongue swirling around my clit as I gasp and moan, my hands twisting into the couch cushions as I could not grip his hair. 

“Oh fuck, Benny! There!” He found a spot that makes my leg twitch, massaging it with his tongue for a moment before he slides 2 fingers inside me, immediately curling them and finding that magical spot. 

“Cum for me, sweetheart,” he speaks lowly against my cunt, his voice vibrating through me and I lose it, his name tumbling from my lips in praise as wave after wave of pleasure passes over me. I start to come down, but he doesn’t move, reaffirming his grip on my stomach.

“Not done with you yet,” he mumbles, diving back in, his tongue finding another spot that makes both of my legs twitch this time. I manage to prop myself up enough to look between my legs, his broad shoulders poking out from under my skirt where his head is fully lodged. When he licks against me again I come undone, hips twitching as I cry his name. I come down and he pulls his head out, hair all mussed up, his chin glistening with me, a big stupid smile on his face.

“I want you to think of me between your legs every time you wear this skirt.”

That rushes straight between my legs, despite the last several minutes. “Fuck yeah I will.”

He sits up and reaches over his back, pulling his shirt from himself. I lean up and start to undo his pants, Benny chuckling as he watches me. “Can’t wait, huh?” I shake my head as I pull down his zipper. He pushes my legs wider as I pull down his boxers and lay back, slapping his dick against my overstimulated pussy and I jolt. He grips my knees and pushes them a little more wider, notching himself at my entrance.

“Now I’m going to fuck your gorgeous self into this couch and you’re going to take it like my good girl, right?” I nod furiously. 

He slides himself in with one push of his hips and I cry out, his body laying over mine as he pounds into me, praise whispered in my ear between grunts. “You’re so fucking hot, Poppy…never been this turned on in my life…I swear it’s like I’m a teenager again…I just want to be inside you all day or between your legs…fuck your tits have good bounce!” 

I reach up and pinch my own nipples, eliciting a moan not only from me but from Benny too. “Fuck yeah, Poppy. You’re so hot - touch yourself. Show me how hot you are.”

I hesitate a moment, having never touched myself in front of him, or anyone, before. But I trust the man currently buried inside of me with my entire heart. So I lift two fingers to his mouth and slide them inside, Benny swirling his tongue around them with a groan before I pull them out and place them on my clit, teasing myself how I like. The difference is, I’ve never had a man pounding me senseless while I did this and oh fuck this is hot. Benny pushes himself up, his eyes watching where I’m touching myself.

“Just like you like, Poppy. Oh fuck, this is hot, I’m gonna…cum with me!” 

And I do. I cum yelling his name as he continues to press deeper into me, my fingers still dancing across my clit as my legs twitch, my pussy tightening around him as he spills into me, my name a chant on his own lips. He leans down, still inside me, as he presses a soft kiss to my lips. 

“Feel better, sweetheart?”

I’m smiling genuinely this time, my entire body warm and relaxed as I nod. “Feeling loved.”

Oh. Fuck. What did I just say?

My eyes fly open as I look at him. We had never said that out loud. But Benny’s smile is wider than mine. “That’s because I love you, Poppy.”

“Y-you do?”

He kisses me again, still soft. “I have for a while.”

“I love you too, Benny. So much.”

The kiss heats up and I feel him twitch inside me. “Let’s go to the bedroom. I want to spread you out and show you how much I love you.”

—----

General Taglist:

@frankie-catfish-morales @chaoticgeminate @janebby @astoryisaloveaffair @balekanemohafe

@greeneyedblondie44 @hoeforthefictional @marvelousmermaid @hauntedmama @icanbeyourjedi 

@wretchedmo @sunnshineeexoxo @livingmydreams13 @adventures-of-a-noodle @sara-alonso 

@theewokingdead @punkerthanpascal @giggly-otter @f0rever15elf @phandoz 

@gallowsjoker @lovesbiggerthanpride @booksarekindaneat @charlispersonallyhell @xoxabs88xox 

@amneris21 @gooddaykate @avengers-fixation @paintballkid711 @harriedandharassed  

@ladykatakuri @practicalghost @withakindheartx @batdarkladyvampir @justanotherkpopstanlol  

@mermaidxatxheart @alexxavicry @justreblogginfics @kmc1989 @veryprairieberry 

@mysterious-moonstruck-musings @heartpascalispunk 

[indycinders]

Meet my MC!

This sounded fun in my head, so I'm making it a ✨thing✨ and making my friends do it too. /silly

Tags: @zorethel @lavender-teardroplettes @papaziggy-devblog @sylus-little-meow-meow @turquoisesea01

Name: Cinders Snyder

Nicknames: Kitty, Cindy, Cincin, Cins

Canon age: 24 (outside of LADS, she's 28)

Pronouns: She/they (either is fine uvu)

Headcanons:

🌷She wears those glasses all the time but I won't draw them because I hate drawing glasses LOL

🌷She's sweet, compassionate, empathetic, anxious, depressed, impulsive at times

🌷She's a freelance artist in her spare time when not working for the Association.

🌷She can play the piano pretty well.

🌷When she graduated the Hunter's Academy, Caleb gifted her a custom sword uvu (have drawn this, can find under the #lads cinders tag)

Main Love Interest:

Zayne Headcanons:

❄️In present time, they're both the type to be content with parallel play and consider it quality time when they're doing their own things but side by side.

❄️He's constantly on her case about managing her low sugars, and often brings her a treat after he's off work.

❄️They're best friends before lovers uvu

❄️When Caleb "died", she sat on the floor of her bedroom for 3 days, missed the funerals, and Zayne had to break into her apartment. He took care of her for several days until she came out of her state.

❄️She exists in the Dawnbreaker AU, but they don't meet until her city is destroyed and she searches for another Evolver to handle the Wanderer crisis.

❄️In the Foreseer timeline, she is a mystical Fae deer responsible for keeping the balance between nature and humanity stable on the mountain where the Foreseer's tower is. She's also responsible for creating the Elysian Cervus Wanderers to protect the mountain.

❄️They have that dynamic and connection where they can share a look and know what the other is thinking. They often communicate like that in large gatherings to let each other know when they want to go home lol.

❄️He caters to her too much and lets her swap cards often when playing Kitty Cards 🤭

❄️They kissed once in high school but both were too awkward to do anything about it after. They had a silent agreement not to bring it up again but it didn't affect their friendship.

❄️She has never once forgotten his birthday and has always sent him either a message or a card wherever he was, even when he tried to distance himself from her when he left to pursue his degrees. Zayne has all of these saved in a shoebox.

Favorite Outfits:

🌷Likes: sweets, music, piano, dancing, rain, sunflowers, daisies, tulips, hiking, art, games, reading, crafts, snow, swimming

🌷Dislikes: heat, crowds, loud noises, confrontational people, balloons, bitter foods, sour foods, feeling trapped

Platonic / Other Headcanons

🩷 Her and Rafi often have painting sessions together and practice different techniques.

❤️ Sylus upgraded Mephisto with a glucose tracker and delivers snacks when he notices her sugars are low.

💜 Xavier has big guard dog energy and will always check ahead on missions even if it annoys her.

🧡 Caleb actively lets her borrow his clothes. He'll purposely leave his hoodies and shirts at her apartment.

🩷 Rafi takes her swimming in the ocean and they search for little treasures together. So far they found 2 bracelets, a pearl choker, 3 wedding bands, and a tiara.

❤️ She was terrified of Sylus because his intimidating demeanor made her anxious. After getting to know him through Mephisto, she considers him a close friend.

💜 Has fallen asleep in the weirdest places with Xavier. Once they both fell asleep at a meeting and the team thought it was so funny, they left them in the conference room. She and Xavier didn't wake up until the building was closed.

🧡 Caleb can't be in the same room as Zayne. Broken bro code and all that. LOL

~*~*~*~*~

Anyway, this was fun and it got long! Feel free to reblog and share your own MCs 🩷🩷🩷 I want to see everyone's qvq

[yurislilygarden]

Hello~ Long time no see, ✨️Inspired Anon returns✨️

I said I had ideas for the 3Vees in the Self Aware Au, but kinda forgot that I never sent them. But~ I had an iron clad memory when it comes to these things so if you want them, here they are~

For starters, all the Vees are aware of the Reader, but I'll leave their reactions to finding out that they're in a show to you.

Starting with Valentino. Val both loves and hates Reader, he loves that this little butterfly spends time in his office and 'oversees' some of his filming but hates that he never gets any reaction that he wants and that frustrates him to no end. Val tries to show Reader his films, his scripts, he even tried getting his workers to put on a 'private show' for Reader but Reader only ever seemed interested in following Angel the majority of the time.

Like, Val gets it, Angels nice eye candy, but he has so much more to offer than just his star!

Why does Val want Readers approval so much? Because he's convinced that every time Readers little butterfly appears during him writing a new script or filming his latest movie, it becomes a massive success. If he can find a way to monopolise Readers attention, then maybe he could make them view even more of his work in progresses and they'd become successes too!

It's purely placebo on his part, and the other Vees tell him that and show him the statistics to prove that there is no real difference in profit between work Reader viewed and work they haven't, but he's too deep in this rabbit hole to get back out.

Yes, Val might think he can use Reader as an infinite success glitch.

He's also not opposed to banging their butterfly form and gets major butthurt when they 'turn down his advances'. He'll keep trying because 'they haven't said no'... bitch, of course they hate said no, THEY HAVEN'T SAID ANYTHING! He's trying to figure out the logistics of how it would work and the other Vee mysteriously always have important work to do when he tries to bounce ideas off of them

Velvette is indifferent to Reader. They don't respond to her both on and offline, so they're a bit of a non factor to her. She has tried getting more of their attention when they fluttered around the studio (mainly following Angel), by dropping hint at making clothing inspired by their butterfly form, but stormed off in a huff at the lack of response. So now she is #OverThem.

However, Vel isn't one to be ignored. She likes to keep tabs on Reader, even made it into a little game with the Voxigram tag #ButterflySpotted where people upload candid pics of Reader around town. If they are genuine pics of Reader, she pays the uploader... in exposure.

She also does still have that butterfly themed dress line tucked away, she tweaks the design ever now and then. It will be her most expensive dress line released once Reader finally acknowledges her, but she miiight give Reader something for free if they admit she's their favourite Vee, preferably in front of the other Vees.

Vox is obsessed with Reader, almost to the same extent as his obsession with Alastor but for different reasons. However, he's not as oblivious as the others when it comes to Reader.

Vox recognises that Reader is listening and not replying instead of blatantly ignoring him, which has led to Vox following Reader (off camera) and venting about everything and anything. This might lead to some form of unhealthy attachment to Reader, but at least he isn't trying to get in Readers butterfly's pants like Val... unless...

Vox also openly admits to designing new drones based on them and has definitely told Reader about them, too. Reader didn't reply, but he knows they're listening.

Vox is also aware of the Reader hanging around the Hotel crew. He doesn't like that. He had considered that Reader was originally a spy for them but concluded that that was unlikely, he also considered recruiting Reader as a spy themselves but won't until he figures out a way around their communication issues.

Currently, he's 'content' with Reader having 'friends' inside the hotel because he knows that he's their favourite. But they better stay away from Alastor. They better not be letting him talk at them. He means it! THAT'S YOUR THINGS WITH HIM NOT YOUR THING WITH AL!

omg I thought I answered this back then when I got it I'M SO SORRY ANON😭

Idk how to answer this honestly, it was worded so well ngl. Val would fr have that love-and-hate relationship with reader. He loves that he can sometimes say to the others about how the butterfly stays in his office/part of the building, but then comes the part that he gets little to no attention, which he obviously hates. And yes, no matter what he gets told, the things made with reader around are OBVIOUSLY better and make more money,, obviously bcs how else there's absolutely no difference😒As for the banging ideas... don't let anyone outside of The Vee's know, that's all I will say bcs Val may end up dead once again...

Velvette is the safest to be around ngl, she doesn't do anything crazy after getting no attention like Val, and the gram is so real, she would save all the real pics to her gallery for sure. I just know that while some guys got exposure, some ended up a little differently... she so would get jealous over pics taken from really up close, she doesn't want random idiots that close to reader. And the collection !! Yes!! The price would be so high that even someone with The Vee's paycheck would call it really expensive, after all, she can't let some complete random wear something like that !! If reader told her how something would look better, even a mere suggestion, she WOULD think abt it for long before most likely actually changing it.

"This might lead to some form of unhealthy attachment to Reader." Don't even get me started on that, if they were to meet, he would assume that reader was actually able to hear every single thing he has said, which reader would not as they hear only what's in the actual show, unless we're going into an Au of sorts.I feel like he wouldn't try to get into reader's pants, but he may listen to Val without being forced to do it from time to time... It's not that he dislikes the fact that the lil butterfly hangs out a lot at the hotel, he HATES it, he wants reader at The Vee's building more !!

[i-reblog-shadow-the-hedgehog]

Too Much Time - if Shadow was never put into stasis.

Part 1 | > Part 2 < | Part 3

And we're back!! I'm deviating from the game storylines more here because I want to focus more on... well, not that. ALSO: there is a point where the year is said - but I don't want to give exact dates. So you get the last part of them filled with X's to give any dates possible with a 50 year gap :D

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shadow and Sonic ran all the way to the place he called "home." It was quite far away from the facility. How did Sonic end up there in the first place? So many questions piling up, and not enough answers. He wasn't even sure if his voice worked enough to ask anymore.

It was a nice looking village, built in the forest with trees all around. Houses were scattered all around on the ground and in the trees, with walkways between them all. He could hardly believe his eyes. An entire community, just like this. Technology and nature, co-existing together.

Sonic chuckled. "Never seen a forest village before? Don't worry, I'm sure we can find a place for you to call your own, here. Oh- right! We never finished introductions. Are you able to talk?"

He tried again to speak, only coming out with a broken and raspy "hhhh-hhhhhhh." It hurt to even try. He put a hand to his throat and shook his head, frowning.

"Hey, that's okay! Let's find my buddy Tails, he should have something for you to write on. His house is over here, c'mon!" Sonic walked him over to one of the bigger houses, the only one in sight with a giant metal door alongside the normal one. He knocked on the door. "Tails, you home? It's me!"

The door slammed open. An orange, two-tailed fox stood there with tears in his eyes. "Sonic, where have you been?! You said you'd only be gone for a couple of hours! It's been an entire week!"

Sonic wore a smile - the kind one might have if they were in trouble. "Hey, hey, buddy, I'm sorry! I kinda got caught up with a few things... but look, I'm here now, and I'm okay! I had some help from a new friend," he said, nodding at the new friend as he waved awkwardly. "I think it would've taken a lot longer if he wasn't there. Oh! Speaking of, do you have something to write on? I think he can't talk."

Tails sniffles, wiping his tears away. "O-oh, yeah I do. Come on in!" He waved them inside, and his house was massive. He could swear it was bigger than the outside looked like it could be. Tails handed him a pen and notepad, smiling somewhat sheepishly. "You should learn sign language to communicate more easily in the future, but for now this should work! Go ahead and keep it, I've got plenty."

This got Sonic to rush over, from wherever he'd gone. Shadow didn't even notice until he came back. "Oh, oh! Can you tell us your name now?

Taking the notepad and pencil without another look, he wrote, “Shadow. Been gone long time. What year is it?”

Tails grimaces. This can't be good. Shadow wasn't there for that long, right? ..... right? Tails wrung his hands around one of his tails before nervously saying, "It's 20XX."

His expression instantly grew serious, his ears flattening. ..... 20XX? The last time he saw a calendar, it was 19XX. The weight of realization hit Shadow all at once, making him falter. Sonic was quick to catch him, and helped him over to the couch.

"Easy there, buddy. You alright? Need some water?"

Shadow didn't respond, holding his head with a hand.

"Sonic, I think we should give him some time to process this," Tails suggests, turning to Shadow. "Will you be okay on the couch for now?" Shadow gave a small nod. "Okay. Then we're gonna leave you here for a little bit. Sonic, I need you to come with me for a checkup."

"What? Me?! I'm fine!" Sonic protested.

Tails rolls his eyes. "You were gone for an entire week, Sonic. I just want to make sure that you don't have any underlying sicknesses or anything. And I need you to tell me what happened."

"Ugh, fine..." Sonic follows Tails into another room across the house, leaving Shadow on the couch to process.

In the other room...

Sonic sits on a chair, kicking his legs impatiently. "I hate this part."

Tails shakes his head, grabbing some instruments. "Well, it's important that I examine you. I know I'm not a doctor, but I can at least pick up enough to know if you need one. Now, what happened?"

Sonic kicked back and got comfortable while Tails did his thing. "Well... you know how I told you I saw some drones that seemed suspiciously Eggman-style? They weren't even trying to go towards our home, though. So I figured maybe he was going after something else, which, y'know... that would be bad if it was some powerful doomsday crystal or something. So I followed them. I guess I must've gotten ambushed though, because the next thing I knew, I was waking up underwater. Except it wasn't water. I could still breathe."

Tails stopped and cocked an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"I mean I was in some weird glass-cylinder-thing. It was barely wide enough to hold me, and I couldn't get up any speed or momentum to break it. It felt super weird. But then Shadow showed up a couple days later and broke me out! And now we're here, so it's all good!" He gave a thumbs-up and smile.

Tails threw up his arms. "Sonic, they put you in a stasis tube! Gah, you're so lucky Shadow was there! Do you remember anything other than that and escaping?"

"Uhhh... I think I felt a tiny pain in my arm while I was out, but it was barely noticeable. Like someone pinching me." Sonic rubs his nose.

Tails' ears droop. "Sonic.... I'm gonna have to do a couple more invasive tests now. I need to know what they did to you, and since you don't know..." Tails rummages through his drawers and gets a needle and syringe, which gets Sonic standing up on the chair.

"Oh, no! I don't need that! I told you, buddy, I'm fine!" Sonic crosses his arms.

Tails sighs. "I just need to draw a little bit of blood to test. And I'll need a quill, too. Just... sit back down, and it'll be over before you know it. Look, I'll even get some chili dogs for you after." That did it. Sonic sat back down and stretched out his arm, still trembling a bit behind the hero facade.

"Well, why didn't you say so? Draw away!"

........

........

Tails placed the blood and quill in his machines for testing. "Alright, that's going to examine everything automatically, and it'll be about an hour before it's done. Want to check back in on Shadow?"

"Sure! I want to make sure he's doing okay. Race you there!" Sonic disappears in the blink of an eye, getting a groan out of Tails.

"Sonic.... You know I can't ever keep up with you when you go that fast!" Tails follows after Sonic, stopping short when he sees Sonic standing over the couch, holding a piece of paper. "Sonic?"

"He's... gone. I only found this note on the couch." Sonic shows Tails the note.

"Unfinished business. Back tomorrow. - Shadow"

Sonic and Tails share a worried look between themselves.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Okay, why is writing so much more fun than I remember it being? I love color-coding things along the way too!

[mysticsublimeperson]

I wrote this a lot of time ago and I have forgotten the original plot, it went something along the lines of Merlin is a cleaning staff of an Hotel and while cleaning Arthurs party (the don't know each other) he loses a very special coin, and when he comes back to retrieve it its accused of stealing.

Basically hotheaded posh spoiled Arthur crash against proud stubborn innocent Merlin. Cue true is discovered and shame on Arthur and blah blah blah.

I suppose the force proximity comes from Arthur not wanting to be sued, and Merlin being as petty as he can because he was fired from his job but the again I don't remember.

If someone wants to use this, please tag me.

More than once Merlin had found himself wishing he was rich.

He didn’t even wanted to be insanely rich. Just have enough money to live in a tiny apartment with four other people and not struggle to pay rent, enough to buy the groceries and also eat out from time to time some fast food, and go for the big burgers, not just the 1 pound deal; enough to pay for a taxi when he was completely exhausted after a day of clases and a 10 hour shift, enough to afford a night in the hotel when work was too far away instead of having to sleep at the train station.

Merlín didn’t really thought about this much. It was, after all, pretty useless thinking. He wasn’t rich, in fact, he was for all the effects and purposes, broke.

And usually he wasn’t bothered by that fact. He liked his flatmates well enough, and he was grateful for having a more or less stable job, and he was doing his masters in something he really was passionate about, even if it made his life difficult… but there’s something about cleaning the disaster of a rich tosser and his end-of-the-month party in a hotel room, that put everything into perspective.

Merlin could huff and puff, but in the end this was his life, he was cleaning the aftermath of a party in a hotel room that was more expensive than his university education.

He wasn’t even hotel staff, he was in a part time company who outsourced a ton of services, so he would not be paid as much an actual cleaner in the hotel.

Well, that was depressing.

He threw the silver coin in the air before catching it.

...

That's it, it was just the start but the idea is promising I think.

:P